Georgia 'Slow-Poke Bill' Wins Speedy Passage, Waiting Governor's Signature

By Scott Bernarde and Deb Belt

Left-lane “slow pokes” who back up traffic behind them need to speed up or get out of the way.

If legislation that was easily passed in the Georgia Senate Tuesday becomes law, it will be a misdemeanor not to move out of the left lane when a faster vehicle is approaching from behind.

Rep. Bill Hitchens, author of House Bill 459, told the AJC, “Everybody knows this is the slow-poke bill.”

The bill was approved 162-9 last month in the House and approved Tuesday on on a 42-5 vote in the Senate, the newspaper reports. All it needs is Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature to become law.

Violators could face misdemeanor penalties of no more than $1,000 in fines and up to a year in prison, says USA Today.

John Bowman, a spokesman for the National Motorists Association, approves of the measure. "I think most states do have some law on their books that attempts to limit slower drivers from using the left lane," he says. "It really does make sense. And it's an issue we've been pushing for a long time."

The bill reads, in part:

“No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation.”

Read the entire bill here

Hitchens, from Rincon, Ga., admitted enforcing the law would be difficult, but likened the intent to the “good manners your mother should have taught you.”

He said removing situations like a long back-up behind a slower car in the left lane could diminish “the spark that ignites road rage.”

What Do You Think?

Should there be a law requiring left-lane drivers to get out of the way of faster vehicles? Tell us in the comments below.